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The recruitment order of gamma‐motoneurones in the decerebrate rabbit.
Author(s) -
Murphy P R
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1981.sp013732
Subject(s) - stimulation , nerve conduction velocity , neuroscience , anatomy , biology , chemistry
1. The order of firing (i.e. recruitment order) of gastrocnemius medialis gamma‐motoneurones to natural stimulation of the limbs has been studied in the precollicular decerebrate rabbit. 2. Recruitment order was not invariable. However, when a fixed order occurred there was a significant tendency for neurones to be recruited in order of increasing axonal conduction velocity. The functional significance of this finding is discussed. 3. In the preparation used, many gamma‐motoneurones were spontaneously active. 4. Two types of gamma‐motoneurone were distinguished on the basis of their resting discharge characteristics and responses to natural stimulation. 5. A significant correlation between resting discharge frequency and axonal conduction velocity was found for gamma‐motoneurones that were predominantly excited by natural stimulation.